Dispatch #18: Writing The Story (I)
So it has begun.
[Estimated reading time: about 3 minutes]
Greetings!
Welcome to The Known World, where I post about my forthcoming book, The Other Side Of The Sun, amongst other things.
Topic #1: A Brief Story Update
➤ NB: I’m posting this update today (Tuesday) instead of Thursday due to scheduling conflicts. I have an onerous doctor’s appointment scheduled for this Thursday down at the Texas Medical Center, which will take up a fair share of time that day. (They always seem to do that, no?) If I am not drained of all cheer and enthusiasm afterwards, I may drop in to visit a few amigos around TMC as well.
As mentioned in the previous dispatch, I’ve started writing the story itself.
After a bit of reflection, I’ve decided to use story idea #2 (the story of how 10 year old Rêvin and the Band of Five first discovered the Other Sight) as the opening chapter of the book. So I’ll call this upcoming bit of writing what it is: Chapter 1.
I will then proceed to a couple of other previously planned vignettes taking place when the Band of Five are 12 and 14 years of age, before arriving at the time when they are 17 years old, which will be where things will really kick into gear. I’m not sure how long these vignettes will be, but collectively the 3 vignettes will show how the Five came to be friends and how they came to be extraordinary.
I decided to take this approach so I can show the Five back when they were innocent lads and lasses, before the burdens of time and the world begin to weigh upon them.
Story #1 will get written in time, but I’ve decided to use it in flashback(s) instead.
Chapter 1 isn’t yet ready for presentation here, but I hope it will be soon.
Shareable Ephemera
[A few side notes and thoughts…]
Even if I don’t get to share Chapter 1 with you in time for the upcoming winter break, I do plan to write a Dispatch about the Other Sight - the ability to bend the arc of the universe towards your favor in various ways, most often with the mind - within the next couple of weeks. I have plenty of previously written material about the subject, and it will give you, the Esteemed Reader, some additional insight into how Archmages like Kryd and Mordax operate. Again, it’s more like using psionic powers similar to the Force in the Star Wars sagas than being like “magic” as such. In fact, Mages and Archmages like to mock false “wizards” wherever they might encounter them.
I’m putting some final touches on that map I made of the Meldûn Borderlands. This will be shared once completed.
I’m also preparing to draw a map of the Isle of Meldûn, where the Five reside in the village of Treva. The Isle is a riverine island; it’s in the center of the map screenshot below. The town of Meldûn sits at the southwestern end, while Treva sits at its eastern side. It is not a flat place, but rather hilly instead. I’ve always envisioned Meldûn as a European-like hill town, somewhat like Haworth in the UK, or like some of the hill towns one might find in northern Italy or southern France.
I’ll put out a Dispatch about the Isle and its immediate surrounds very soon as well, since I haven’t really covered that area so far and it’s pretty central to the story.
I’m having 2nd thoughts about turning Sî the Dandiprat into a fancy Otter, but I might still have such a creature be a scribe or a sage working for Kryd at his treehouse. The struggle is real.
I am no longer using Twitter, aka “X”. It’s become too hateful, and I’m not a fan of hate.
I’m now available on Bluesky. If you are there as well, my handle is @beturpin.bsky.social.
Conclusion
That’s it for today! I hope you have enjoyed reading this Dispatch.
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Until next time, thanks for reading!
— B.E. Turpin